First Build

[thomspondavidr]

This is my first build. It is intended for home use as well as gaming (WoW being the most demanding). I want to make sure I haven't missed anything as well as check for any compatibility issues. I appreciate ANY comments/suggestions, just remember I'm a noob, so please be detailed. I intend to get a second video card for SLI as well as additional RAM down the road, if needed. Also, the audio card is not intended for high quality sound as much as to take load off of the PCU. Thanks.

Here are the components I have selected:

CASE
LIAN LI PC-7B plus II Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811112099

POWER SUPPLY
CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817139001

MOBO
ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131013

CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADX6000CZBOX
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103773

CPU COOLER
ZALMAN CNPS7000B-CU 92mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835118113

HARD DRIVES
Fujitsu MAX3036NC 36.7GB 15,000 RPM SCSI Ultra320 80pin Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822116002

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144701

RAM
G.SKILL 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5S-2GBPQ
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231121

VIDEO CARD
EVGA 512-P2-N757-TR GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130290

AUDIO CARD
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16829102012


OPTICAL DRIVES
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827106057

LITE-ON Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model DH-16D2P-08
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827106087


PCI SLOT FAN (to place near video card)
Dynatron DB1206SPG PCI Slot Case Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835888602

MONITOR
Hanns·G JW-199DPB Black 19" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824254001

 

[amdiesen]

thomsponda vidr,

The Fujistu hard drive that you have selected requires a scsi controller card. You would likely benefit from dropping this drive and putting the resources toward a bigger monitor.

 

[Solariscs]

Hi there, that's a pretty good system. If you intend to game, however, get a different card, that one isn't good at games. Try the GTS for light gaming or the X1950Pro if you are on a budget. The best would be the X1950pro, but it doesn't support DX10.

Like Amdiesen said, that HDD isn't compatible. You need a SATA drive. If you want something fast and have money to spend, get a raptor, however I don't feel they give the performance boot they should for the money so I suggest a larger, cheaper 7200 drive.

 

[three0duster]

That and you could replace that drive with a raptor or a more cost effective 750GB Western Digital SATA drive that is even faster. Yea, the 8600 is not the best performer for the money by far. The X1950Pro is a quick card, It all depends on if you are going to run Vista and need a DX10 card for anything. Everything else looks alright.

 

[WR2]

PCI SLOT FAN (to place near video card)

Not required at all thanks to your very good case choice and 8600GT video card.

 

[hashbrown]

I would drop the aftermarket cpu cooler unless you are getting an OEM cpu ( unless you plan on doing some overclocking, which you don't have the best cooling solution chosen ), the Audigy sound card ( the onboard will be fine unless you have $100+ speakers ), ditch the pci fan as the video card can cool itself adequately, and you cannot use that scsi hard drive with the selected motherboard. With this saved money, go for an 8800GTS 320mb video card, and a larger 320gb Seagate or Western Digital hard drive.

 

[thomspondavidr]

Thanks for all the suggestions -- very helpful. Based on the comments, I have scrapped both hard drives, the video card, and the cpu cooler and replaced with the following. This is a learning experience for me, so please continue with any thoughts, they are greatly appreciated.

Also, I have heard that adding a sound card, rather than sticking with the on-board, can relieve some load from the CPU...that's why I selected the Audigy. Is that true, or is it just a waste of time and money?



Hard Drive
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

Video Card
EVGA 512-P2-N773-AR GeForce 8600GTS 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130286

 

[WR2]

Also, I have heard that adding a sound card, rather than sticking with the on-board, can relieve some load from the CPU...that's why I selected the Audigy. Is that true, or is it just a waste of time and money?

It is true. But you have chosen a very powerful CPU and it shouldnt break a sweat handling a few cycles of audio support. You can easily leave the audio card off your build. If for some reason you decided you need one later - its very easy to add one.

Also the 2nd optical drive - LITE-ON Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive. Unless you have some unusual requirements you can leave this off your build as well. Its easy to use your Hard Disk as a "virtual DVD drive" if you need to do any copying between DVDs.